Happy 80th birthday, My American Mom, Fran!

 

 

 

Happy 80th birthday, My American Mom, Fran!

 

You might bea little bit surprised to get these messages from your old friends in Korea.Actually, before I sent you a Christmas card last week I got a mail from yourgrandchildren Amy Fadeji & Joe Barnett. It read, "On January 14, 2011,our grandma will be turning 80 years old! As a gift, our family is presentingher with a SURPRISE memory book that will include letters and pictures frompeople whose lives she has touched. We would be very honored if you wouldplease write a short letter to our grandma for this special book. You can writeabout a memory, a funny story, or anything that brings you good thoughts ofher. Our grandma had many very special friends during her time in Korea. Itwould be nice to have some letters from some other Korean professors andstudents..."

 

This letterand what follows is a result of their planning. When I forwarded Amy &Joe's message to your Korean friends, they told me they are overjoyed to havean opportunity to send you congratulatory messages and were delighted to joinme . Unfortunately I couldn't find all of your friends because I lost track ofthem after their retirement or for other reasons. Anyway, you have suchwonderful grandchildren. This makes you such a lucky and happy grandma.

 

 

Well, this is my congratulatory message onyour eightieth birthday ―"You are such a faithful and wonderful lady, andI know many were touched by the legacy you have left thus far. I amtremendously privileged to know you. Wish you a blessed 80th year, continuedlongevity, and many more blessings to come, my American mom!"

However, this is not enough at all to expresshow much I love you and how special you are to me. In seeking materials for writing about you, Ifound some passages below in which I mentioned you. They were included in myreports for Chungcheongbuk-do English teacher training program and researchpapers submitted to an international conference, which you might remember. Theseare parts of my unforgetable memories with you, which I will cherish forever.

 

1. Fran, myAmerican mom, took care of all of us like a mom that she is. I'm sure it may beburdensome at times, with so many children from Korea but thank you for alwaysgiving your 110 percent. There is not one single soul that was not touched byyour genuine love after meeting you. Now that you're retired, I hope youfinally get to be a little bit selfish and do things that YOU want to doinstead of sacrificing your time and energy for others, which you have beendoing for all your life. I've learned so much from you, mom. - In the Prefaceof English Teacher Training Report at Korean Summer Institute, Chico family19th.

 

2. I wouldlike to express special thanks to Professor Fran Eitel. In fact, without herhelp, this book would not have come into being. She has helped me from thebeginning of the study. I am indebted to her for almost all I achieve in thestudy. She has proofread the heaps of scripts with painstaking effort andloving care. ― In Acknowledgements of Message-oriented CommunicationActitivies written by me for IATEFL Conference held in England.

 

Well, in the 2010 Christmas messageyou wrote me as follows. "You are such a good and thoughtful friend. Ihave been so lucky to know you. Take good care of yourself! Love, Fran."This is my reply ― "You are such a wonderful friend, mentor and, aboveall, my mom. I have been so lucky and happy to have you as these. Take wonderfulcare of yourself! with Love, Cheol."